Mar 28, 2024  
2016-2017 Springfield College Undergraduate Catalog 
    
2016-2017 Springfield College Undergraduate Catalog [ARCHIVED CATALOG]


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Recreation Management



Degree: Bachelor of Science (B.S.) with a major in Recreation Management

 (120 credit hours) Requirements are subject to change

Springfield College has been preparing recreation and park professionals for sixty years, recognizing the contribution which recreation experiences make to the quality of life. Leadership, management, and program skills are the focus of the curriculum, which is accredited by the Council on Accreditation, Parks, Recreation, Tourism and Related Professions (COAPRT). Recreation management majors follow a track in general recreation management.

Recreation management is an accredited professional program that prepares students for leadership positions in recreation programming, program design, personnel management, and basic research. Graduates of this program are employed professionally throughout the world in outdoor recreation centers, the travel business, the National Park Service, resorts, the adventure trip industry, armed forces recreation programs, campus recreation, corporate recreation services, municipal recreation, and YMCAs. The program aims to impart an understanding of the following:

  • Recreation management and leadership practices in the context of human-helping professions.
  • Experiential learning concepts that enhance skills in management, programming, and group dynamics.
  • Current management applications, such as total quality management, team and project approaches, strategic planning, entrepreneurial strategies, the development of learning organizations, and active listening.

Springfield College also manages a summer camp and outdoor education center located on the East Campus.  Students learn about operations and facilities in this urban wilderness setting.  This setting also provides opportunities for students to learn by honing program skills that deliver growth in spirit, mind and body.  Students may also elect to attend training sessions promoted by the National Outdoor Leadership School (NOLS) and Outward Bound. Limited college credit for NOLS, study abroad, or outdoor expeditions may be arranged to supplement the student’s academic program and professional development.

If students opt for an additional semester to satisfy the program’s internship requirement, additional tuition charges will apply.

For more information about the recreation management major, contact Dr. Ariel Rodriguez, Program Director for Recreation Management, at (413) 748-3272, or Dr. Kevin McAllister, chairperson of the Sport Management and Recreation Department, at (413) 748-3476 or the Admissions Office at (800) 343-1257.

Download a Recreation Management Program Checksheet

 

CURRICULAR REQUIREMENTS


I. General Education Program (40 - 46 credits)


The General Education program at Springfield College is informed by its century-old Humanics tradition of educating the whole person in spirit, mind, and body, for leadership in service to humanity. These requirements have the goal of developing literate, thoughtful, socially responsible students, and instilling in them a spirit of inquiry into the nature of humankind and the universe. Towards those ends, the requirements emphasize and encourage: the acquisition of knowledge, understanding, and competency essential for the improvement of the human condition in a diverse society; a search for personal and spiritual values; and the development of an understanding and appreciation of physical well-being.  For specific requirements, see the General Education Program (40 - 46 credits)  section or the Sequencing Guide for this major.

II. Recreation Management Options


A. General Recreation Management


Degree: Bachelor of Science (B.S.) with a major in Recreation Management

(120 credit hours) Requirements subject to change

For students not selecting the or Therapeutic Recreation option:

2. Electives (to complete a minimum of 120 credits)


Students are strongly advised to consider the Business Management minor, YMCA minor or the Not For Profit Business minor in order to strengthen their preparation for entry into their profession.

Also, students must take:

3. MBA Track


Sophomores in the Sport Management and Recreation Management majors must declare their intent to apply to the MBA one-year program.  Entrance requirements include a 3.0 GPA, successful completion of the GMAT, a Springfield College graduate application, three reference letters, resume and an interview with the MBA director.  For additional information, contact the Business Administration Department.

C. Therapeutic Recreation and Child Life


Degree: Bachelor of Science (B.S.) with a major in Recreation Management with an option in Therapeutic Recreation Services and second option in Child Life Speciality(120 credit hours) Requirements are subject to change

Springfield College has been preparing recreation and leisure professionals for almost sixty years, recognizing the contribution which recreation experiences make to the quality of life. Leadership, management, and program skills are the focus of the curriculum.

The therapeutic recreation services option is an accredited professional program which prepares students to be certified as therapeutic recreation specialists. Graduates plan, develop, implement, and evaluate therapeutic recreation services in clinical and non-clinical settings. The program explores the use of recreation services to improve or maintain physical, mental, emotional, and/or social functioning and to assist individuals to achieve and sustain self-reliant, high-quality leisure lifestyles. Employment opportunities within the therapeutic recreation profession include:

  • hospitals, nursing homes, and long-term care facilities
  • rehabilitation centers
  • mental health and substance abuse agencies
  • correctional facilities
  • senior citizen centers
  • camps and outdoor recreation settings
  • sheltered workshops and vocational training centers
  • schools

Students in the therapeutic recreation services option can complete the second option in child life (requires 14 additional credits).

If a student opts for an additional semester to satisfy the program’s internship requirement, additional tuition charges will apply.

For more information about the therapeutic recreation services option and second option in child life, contact Professor Kristen Rhodes at (413) 748-3749, or Dr. Kevin McAllister, chairperson of the Sport Management and Recreation Department, at (413) 748-3476 or the Admissions Office at (800) 343-1257.

4. Electives (to complete a minimum of 120 credits)


Program and Advanced Standing Requirements


Recreation management majors must qualify for advanced standing in order to register for the third and fourth year sequences of required courses (including Practicum and Internship). To qualify for advanced standing, the student must meet the following standards by the conclusion of his or her sophomore year.

  1. The student’s overall cumulative grade point index must meet or exceed a 2.50 GPA.
  2. Proper professional and responsible behavior is expected of each recreation management student. This includes behavior while a student (on- and off-campus) and as a member of the college community.

After achieving the minimum GPA, the student must maintain those standards through the remainder of the program. If the student fails to meet or maintain those standards, the faculty will review the student’s record and recommend departmental probation (with appropriate prescription to overcome the deficiency) or dismissal from the program.

Appeal Process
A student may appeal any action taken by the department regarding his or her probation or dismissal from the major. In order to appeal, the student must submit a letter to the department chairperson requesting a review of their status. This appeal must be submitted within two weeks of the student being notified of his or her probation or dismissal. The sport management and recreation chairperson will call a meeting of the appropriate faculty to which the student will be invited. The student will be notified within ten days of the meeting regarding the outcome of their appeal.